An awesome 30-tooth ratchet from the the good old days...
The F830 ratchet is probably one of Snap On's best designs in recent memory. Late 90s and early 2000s, this is what you probably lusted for. The build quality is one of the best they have ever produced, and I would say it is easily the most robust 3/8" ratchet in my box. Tight tolerances, forged handle, positive direction selector, very little back drag, well balanced in the hand and fully sealed, this ratchet is just about everything you could have wanted for at the time.
Yes, it's only a 30-tooth mechanism, and that is considered "coarse" among purists and fine tooth fanbois, but what many people overlook is the minimal head size on this thing. The newer models like the F936 and even newer F80 both have a noticeably larger ratchet head, so they simply won't in as many places as the old F830. As the saying goes, there's no free lunch, and the higher tooth counts and fancier ratcheting mechanisms come at a price. Is the difference huge? No, of course not, but it's there none the less and worth keeping in mind.
Abstract away from the tooth count and size of the ratchet head itself and you've still got one of the finest American made ratchets there is, certainly of its time, and a signature piece of history from the twilight of the 20th century. There's a certain sense of nostalgia when using an F830, and it takes you back to wrenching in the 1990s when this bad boy was the end all, be all. Even if you're not looking for a trip down memory lane, they're still worth picking up and having as a backup. You can't ever have too many ratchets, especially 3/8" ratchets, and you could do far worse than one of these fine specimens.
It's getting difficult to find good condition specimens of this increasingly rare breed, so don't hesitate if you spot a nice one. You probably don't need another ratchet, but sometimes ownership is reason enough. :)
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